Beauty and the blogosphere

In the three months since it’s launch, lifestyle blog, Catmint.in.th, has attracted quite a following. Ladies, it seems, are always eager to find out more about the latest in beauty, food, fashion, travel trends and high-tech gizmos. Advertisers have quickly cottoned on to its popularity too, with cosmetic companies Bobbi Brown and Kanebo signing up for space.

The brainchild of nine media-savvy women, Catmint was conceived early this year when the ladies decided to take their online friendship into a face-to-face setting. They connected in real life too, discovering that their common interests went far beyond a love for blogging.

“I’m so lucky to be able to combine my marketing skills with technology,” says real estate executive Dhanispas “Bhee” Boon-am, adding that Catmint is designed as a blog for women but that men also enjoy reading the articles and comments.

“We started by integrating our individual passions so we could build good content for our followers. We are targeting women in the age range of 28 and 40 who have similar lifestyles to ours. Perhaps one day we might even make some money!”

Teaming up rather than blogging individually has added both to their strength and credibility in the rapidly growing blogosphere, a space now recognised by commercial enterprises and service providers the world over as an important marketing channel. According to Google’s “Zero Moment of Truth”, consumers today rarely make a decision, whether it’s about what to buy or where to stay and eat, without first checking out what others have to say on the social media.

“Blogs definitely influence people, whether they’re buying online or offline, which is why we see hundreds of new blogs starting up every day,” says Dhanispas. “But only good content can be sustainable.

“Brands are now spending a lot of their marketing budget by placing ads on the blogs. Unfortunately, too many blogs are being led purely by the money that comes in from advertising. Catmint isn’t like that: we try to be objective and true to our readers.”

Catmint also guarantees readers at least one new story a day. 

“With the exception of Nakareeya, we all have daytime jobs so we cannot devote ourselves to the blog around the clock. We often meet up in the evenings and at the weekends to brainstorm on our content strategy,” she explains.

“I started my own blog in 2010 and for Catmint, I write about lifestyle, gadgets and trends,” continues Dhanispas, who has earned fans with her direct and concise style.

“I’m addicted to social media,” she laughs. “I love to talk and share with people and that’s what I do on Catmint.”

Chudaorn Ubolsmut launched her cyber life by posting news and reviews on the web boards at BluePlanet and Pantip.com and quickly became popular with other netizens. To keep her content under one umbrella, she set up her own blog in 2010. “The biggest value of a blogger is sincerity,” she says.

Catmint’s editor on chief, Nakareeya Duangvisut, the blog’s only full-time member, says the beauty of social media is that it allows for instant feedback, thus allowing the blogger to develop.

Usanee Jaroonpipatkul agrees, adding that social media can also help prevent over-hasty and often regretted purchases. “People not only seek information over the Internet, but they also look for direct experience of other customers or users before they make the decision to buy. That’s why blogs are increasingly the must-read review sites. Good bloggers never stop seeking new and interesting stories,” she says.

Phaninsudha Phornvutiyanont says that thanks to social media, people are able to communicate around the clock, thus allowing her blog to be reached by interested readers anytime and anywhere. 

Chayapa Boonmana, who started blogging three years ago, is so enamoured with digital marketing that she’s started her own company. 

“At Catmint, I blog about lifestyle and health. To me a good blogger is someone with an interesting point of view who is able to write in such a way that it entertains the reader,” she says.

Fashion lover Phenarpa Promprasit started her own blog because she enjoyed reading the comments of others on the Net. “A blog should be a one-stop service. Good storytelling and photos attract the reader while providing information,” she says.

 

The writer can be contacted at @lekasina

 

 

 

The Catmint gals

 

Dhanispas Boon-am (@dhanis) 

Dhanispas started work with MSN and today she is responsible for social media and digital marketing for a real estate company. She recently completed her MBA Startup course with Disrupt University, an online college founded and operated by Thai geek and popular startup guru Krating Poonpol. 

 

Chayapa Boonmana (@BubblyBubble)

A blogger for the last three years, Chayapa’s passion for reporting landed her a trip to the 2012 Summer Olympics as a member of the Samsung Global Blogger project.

 

Chudaorn Ubolsmut (@dj_maymey)

A graduate in mass communication, who has worked as a journalist and is now a product executive, Chudaorn loves talking, interviewing and telling stories.

 

Nakareeya Duangvisut (@zaicatmintinth)

The editor in chief of Catmint, Nakareeya has been blogging about beauty since 2007. Today, she works full time with Catmint.

 

Nichakan Sawasdichai (@nichieme)

A graphic designer for Thai software company Hua Lampong, which developed the photo sharing app MOLOME, Nichakan is the Catmint’s designer and is also responsible for the blog’s features and function.

 

Phaninsudha Phornvutiyanont (@wan_nam)

A much-read blogger from Pantip.com, Phaninsudha has worked as a translator and full time blogger since 2012. She writes about food and tourism.

 

Phenarpa Promprasit (@phenarploy)

A graduate of Assumption University’s Faculty of Arts, Phenarpa works as an assistant digital marketing manager for Club 21 (Thailand). Her main interest is fashion.

 

Sresuda Winitsuwan (@sresuda)

Sresuda is a well-known TV journalist who learned all about digital media while hosting an IT programme. She writers about lifestyle issues and digital media for Catmint.

 

Usanee Jaroonpipatkul (@notieenote).

A former public relations officer with a degree in mass communication and marketing, Usanee started blogging in 2005 while studying abroad.